Intel Pentium 2020M  vs Core i3 3110M 

The Intel Pentium 2020M versus the Intel Core i3 3110M is a face off between entry level processors which provide good value for money. Both are part of the new Ivy Bridge architecture, which is an incremental upgrade from the former Sandy Bridge lineup. As for their similarities, both are dual core, have the same TDP at 35W, and have the same base speed of 2.4GHz.

However, the similarities end there. The 3110M has many features which are lacking in the competition; hyperthreading, Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, four threads, and a bigger L3 cache of 3MB. This translates to zippier overall performance: with an output of 500-700 more points on the 3D Mark and Passmark benchmarks. It should be noted though that for pure single core performance, the 2020M is holding its own, with only a negligible difference of 24 points. Thus, you would have to be running multi-threaded programs and applications, in order to truly benefit from the 3110M's performance.

In conclusion, for simple programs with single core performance, the Intel Pentium 2020M is the smarter choice because of its significantly lower price. But for a faster multitasking experience and better graphics, the Intel Core i3 3110M will prove as a worthy investment.